1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Frozen Shoulder

Intense upper arm muscle pain & restricted movement

Posted , 13 users are following.

Hayley_P
Hayley_P

Hello everyone

I've went to see my GP after my upper arm really hurting for a month & my arm movements getting more restricted.

My GP sent me for physio who I saw today. He diagnosed me with frozen shoulder. My symptoms are VERY limited arm movements with the most intense awful burning pain in my upper arm muscle towards my armpit. This radiates down my arm and the back my wrist feels numb as if my watch is too tight. At no point though have I had ANY pain in my actual shoulder itself so I was very surprised when the physio said that's what I have.

Has anyone had similar?

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

Next
  • Lotsofpain
    Lotsofpain Hayley_P

    Posted

    i dont get the stiffness that much but an mri suggested tendinitis in the biceps maybe ask GP for an mri 
  • karenus
    karenus Hayley_P

    Posted

    Yes...very common to have pain running down the arm and some numbness/tingly feeling. When I feel real pain in my shoulder itself (and then it generalizes) is when I do any kind of movement that creates a yanking motion to my shoulder. So imagine trying to pull apart something sticky....when it finally breaks free...look out! This summer I was husking corn on the cob and this happened and I cried, felt nauseous, and had to sit on the floor as I was about to faint from the pain. Now I am super careful....even opening a package/mail....

    Take care and I hope that you start to feel better soon.

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure karenus

      Posted

      oooh that sounds so painful. Hope you doing better.

      take care 

      HOPEbiggrin

  • tracy12563
    tracy12563 Hayley_P

    Posted

    Hi Hayley, it sound like frozen shoulder. My pain is towards the front of my shoulder, in my bicep, down my arm into my elbow and I get pins and needles thru my fingers also. Also pain down towards my breast.

    The joys of 'frozen shoulder" sad

    Unfortunately it doesn't stay just in the shoulder!

    The excersises from the Physio will help though but it takes a really long time to get better ....,

    • Time_out
      Time_out tracy12563

      Posted

      Hi my symptoms are the same ..... it's so debilitating and feels like there's no end to it! I've seen a chiropractor and have been doing  physio. I'm a very active person and not being able to do my yoga and swimming has really got me down ..... I have been given gabopentin pain killers( used for epilepsy)but they don't give any relief and have started to make me itch.sleeping on my back all night is so uncomfortable too Going back to my GP to see what I can do. I  am normally a very positive person but really struggling to stay that way with this continual  pain 

    • kate42723
      kate42723 tracy12563

      Posted

      Hi Tracy . I identify with your symptoms .I was originally diagnosed with frozen shoulder in February 2017 after experiencing very restricted movements in left shoulder and pain from shoulder to arm . Also at times pain in breast in same Side .i was sent for X-ray . Dr then said I have arthritic wear n tear in shoulder . However I seem to have pain right down from shoulder thru elbow to forearm . I find it difficult to get dressed and to drives I dint know if it's worth going back to see GP or not . I am on Naproxem and co codomal . Sorry for huge message . I just wondered have you found any other treatments effective ? Thanks in advance

    • tracy12563
      tracy12563 kate42723

      Posted

      Hi, I have had 2 cortisone injections into the joint and 1 hydrodilatation ( cortisone with 50ml saline which is meant to 'blow apart' the frozen shoulder.) they only worked temporarily and I have just had a second surgery on my shoulder to clean out the damage (again) and the specialist is hoping this will fix it. Generally the injections work for most people , just not me sad

      Hope yours is getting better!

  • cindy_45475
    cindy_45475 Hayley_P

    Posted

    Hi Hayley

    This sounds all to familiar. My pain was more in my bicep, down my forearm elbow wrist and even fingers but I could not raise my arm without my whole shoulder lifting. I am thankfully out the other side. I had intence pain for months and many sleepless nights, but there is an end to this, I now have around 95% ROM back in my right arm.

    Best wishes

    Cindy

    • Maz57
      Maz57 cindy_45475

      Posted

      Good to read your post and be given some hope Cindy. I'm still in the very painful stage. Some days and nights worse than others but hoping one day soon there'll be no more pain and a full nights sleep!

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure Maz57

      Posted

      Hi Maz, there is also manipulation available under IV by specialist.

      therapy and joint splint helps and treat with heat. I wore a shoulder splint when I slept.

      i helps wih sleep and keeps the pressur off the joint. It's painful and I hope you find relief soon.

      in the long run in the US Xiaflex helped break down collagen tissue in the shoulder capsule and returned my shoulder to full range of movement.

       

    • irene1966
      irene1966 cindy_45475

      Posted

      Cindy, how long from this starting until your pain stopped? I just turned five months into this.
    • cindy_45475
      cindy_45475 irene1966

      Posted

      Hi Irene.you probably do not want to hear this because I know it feels like a life time away from where you are now but I think.it was around the 9 month stage when the pain subsided. Movement was still limited but oh the relief was immense.

      I wish you a speedy recovery.

      Cindy

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure Hayley_P

    Posted

    I had Xiaflex injections done in my FS. Is a protien that only eliminates collagen build up that causes the pain and loss of ROM

    After two weeks went back in for manipulation and the had a splint and a couple weeks of therapy. That was 8 months ago and have full range og movement back and no pain.

    this is in the US. APPROVED BY FDA . 

     

  • madiniah33615
    madiniah33615 Hayley_P

    Posted

    My experience was identical to ours..but now almost a year since my diagnosis I'm no longer in intense pain but my ROM is still very restricted and I get slight muscular pain feeling on my shoulder now.. Hopefully this FS is working its way out ....

  • ali36527
    ali36527 Hayley_P

    Posted

    Hi Hayley, I get a lot of pain in my upper arm.

    My Physio says it's partly because some muscles are overworking and getting tired and sore, and partly because of reflected pain.

    This week he was pressing on muscles at the back of my shoulder blades, the back of my shoulder blades felt nice, like they were un-knotting, but at the same time I had a horrible ache in my upper arm, he said that's where the pain is reflected to, from that muscle.

    I see him once a week. I have a big improvement after seeing him and then the pain builds up again.

    I've started having a turmeric drink each morning, magnesium tablet at night, sleeping with my sore arm resting on s pillow and am trying out a better quality pillow. Also doing exercises and trying to stretch.

    Working at a computer all day doesn't help.

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.